Chapter 1367

His mother's protective nature was quite good; she wouldn't sacrifice herself for others.

As long as her own people didn't suffer a loss, then everything was fine, and anything could be done.

Ye Mu continued to gloat, "Those people who were still watching from the sidelines last year must be slapping their thighs blue now. They didn't expect that while so many signed up at the beginning, there weren't many left when it came time to actually work, yet they still got 300 yuan each this year."

"Then I reckon their thighs will be slapped swollen. After all, the truly busy times were only a few days; the rest of the time, they just needed to take turns managing it and keeping an eye on things."

"Having tasted the sweetness now, it'll more than double next year."

"A bit more is fine. It's not enough to sell this year; it's only twenty or thirty tons. If we run into a few more wholesale dealers, it'll be gone in an instant."

Ye Yaodong turned his head to look at Lin Xiuqing while speaking, "After I go up in a few days, you watch the situation. If squid prices drop, buy more; they can also be roasted and dried just like cuttlefish."

"I know."

The old lady asked worriedly, "Why are you going up again? How long will this trip take? You can't be gone for another half a year; May Day just passed, and the calendar is still thick..."

"Don't worry, it won't be more than a month. I estimate I'll be back in about half a month."

"Half a month, that's fine then..."

Ye Mu asked, "Did your friend say when he's coming to pick you up?"

"Tentatively mid-month. The specific day depends on the situation. It's only the 8th today, still a week away, no need to rush."

"Then be careful. It's good that you're taking people with you."

"Mm."

While the family was sitting down to dinner and chatting, the telephone suddenly rang.

Lin Xiuqing went to answer the phone immediately, thinking it was her father calling. The phone line had been connected for 10 days now, and the only calls their home had received were from her father.

After picking it up, her gaze immediately turned to Ye Yaodong.

"Adong, it's for you, your friend."

"Hm? Speak of the devil, and he appears."

He stood up and immediately went to answer the phone.

Upon hearing it was for him, the whole family's gaze focused on him, and they couldn't even bother to eat.

Once he hung up the phone, everyone asked: What did he say?

"He's coming tomorrow to haul another 10 tons of goods."

"This guy is pretty impressive."

"If he weren't impressive, could he drive a big truck across provinces everywhere?"

"That's great, we can sell a bit more and make some money, not bad at all. The friends you know are all quite useful," Ye Mu praised.

"Not calling them 'fox friends and dog buddies' anymore?"

"That was in the past. Looking at them now, they all seem quite good. In the past, you were truly annoying to people and dogs, being pointed at every day; I couldn't even lift my head."

"Pfft, now he's earned you face, no need to keep your head down. A bunch of women envy you for having such a good son."

"That's right."

Ye Mu laughed, her face full of smug satisfaction.

The day after Ye Yaodong received the call, he drove his boat to the city. He had originally planned to go out to sea to collect a load of goods today, but he decided to come over first to host the layman properly.

After building rapport and having the accounts settled on the spot, and watching a truckload of goods drive away, he then took his workers out to sea to collect goods.

It was already the 9th today. He counted on his fingers and felt that his father should be back in these next few days.

Last month, they went out to sea four or five days after Qingming, and it had been about a month since then. Last time, they were only out at sea for 20-something days, not even a month.

He kept worrying in his heart that his father wouldn't be reluctant to return because of the large amount of goods, thus delaying his big plans to go out.

He had arranged everything perfectly now; he was just waiting for his father to return so he could resolve the boatload of goods, and then he could go out without any distractions.

Fortunately, his father didn't drag it out too long. When he docked the fresh-catch boat at the pier at night, they were still unloading, and before dawn, he happened to see the Ocean-Going Boat No. 1 return, letting out a huge sigh of relief.

This return was truly timely. It was the 10th today; his father had calculated it perfectly to exactly one month.

The unloading and weighing here were nearing the end. He handed it over to Ah Cai and the workers to watch, and went to greet his father first.

Ah Cai knew that Ocean-Going Boat No. 1 had returned again, and his heart trembled again.

"How did these two happen at the same time? Both boats piling up together, how can I handle it... so many goods, oh my, my head is spinning..."

He didn't just grumble to the workers; when Ye Yaodong turned back, he grabbed him and said.

"Both boats are piling up together, look..."

"I know you can't handle it. Most of the goods already have destinations. Didn't you see that the goods unloaded for you at night weren't that many? Only some of the valuable ones?"

"That's true... your two factories have started production? Can they digest it?"

"Not yet. A proper factory isn't a small workshop, it doesn't happen that fast. But they can digest a portion. My father also sold a portion at sea, only leaving the more valuable ones to bring back."

"That's good, that's good." Ah Cai was immediately relieved.

Ye Yaodong said: "You also need to ponder how to expand your business. Get two transport trucks and let your brothers and nephews haul them directly to the surrounding areas."

"That takes capital too. The money I earn is all advanced to you, turned into goods, and then I have to work desperately to earn it back, and once earned, it's given to you again, turned into goods again. I... I haven't even seen the money..."

Ye Yaodong almost couldn't hold it and laughed out loud.

It seemed that was indeed the case.

His goods were hauled back every two or three days, and he could only catch his breath when a few boats returned to rest. If it weren't for the few processing plants sharing the load, selling 24 hours a day, he would be worried about not being able to sell in time.

Now they settled accounts twice a month, and the money from sales at mid-month and month-end had to be settled with him on time. Perhaps only before the accounts were settled could Ah Cai have money in his hands.

He quickly comforted him, "How could you not see the money? It's just that it's all turned into goods. It's the same for me; the money I get from settlements is turned into goods, and the goods are turned into money, and it just keeps cycling."

"You don't have that, do you? Your goods are brought back and turned into money, and the money goes into your pocket. Where do you need to take money to buy goods again?"

Ah Cai had a look of "I'm not easily fooled," scanning him up and down with disdain.

"I'm not buying goods; I'm taking the money from my pocket to buy boats. And I support many people; how many do you support? My few boats plus the workshop have over a hundred people; the monthly wage expenditure alone is 10,000 yuan."

"That's true, you're a big boss now, it's normal to pay high wages. Hurry up and weigh the goods from that boat that just returned, and get them to the market quickly. If they look good, even better, to attract customers so the goods can sell faster."

"Okay."

Everyone happened to be at the pier today, so there was no need to delay; they unloaded and weighed them directly through the night.

Ye Yaodong handed the weighing work at Ah Cai's side to his father to watch, and he himself sent the other goods needed by the factory over through the night. Anyway, those processing plants operated 24 hours a day.

After one round trip, the sky was already bright.

By the time he finished sending the goods that needed to be sent, the sun was already high in the sky.

He and his father each drove a boat straight to the village.

They couldn't bother chatting at the pier earlier, only busy unloading; only now, while driving the boat, were they free to chat on the channel.

When Ye Yaodong was at the pier, he had already asked his father why this trip took so long.

His father said that when they went out, they encountered strong winds and heavy rain, and the signal was too weak. Worried about losing their way, they didn't dare run around, so they returned to dock at the provincial capital first, stayed for two days, and only then thought about continuing out to sea.

That's why they stayed a bit longer, wanting to make up for the time lost.

Returning safely is the best; the amount of goods is secondary.

On the way back, he also connected with his father to talk about his plan to go to Zhoushan in a few days.

"It's a good thing you returned today; if it were a few days later, I don't know if there would be enough time."

"There will be a bit more trawled goods these two days, so I thought about staying two more days; otherwise, I planned to return around the 7th."

"Safe is good. Rest well at home for a few days, no need to rush."

"Since you're going up, is everything at home arranged?"

"Everything is arranged. The kelp at home has just been collected, and I've arranged for someone to drive the fresh-catch boat. Just send the corresponding goods directly to the factory; the factory will issue cargo lists, and the lists will definitely match the payments, so no need to worry about them swallowing it. Everything has to be handed to Ah Qing for verification upon return."

He added, "And for your boat, after the next trip, it will be 20-something days later, and I'll be back by then."

"Ah Qing is at home for the rest, I don't necessarily need to be there; she can handle it. Also, telephones have been installed at home and at the shop in the city, installed at the end of last month, so it'll be convenient to contact each other."

"They're all installed? That's quite fast? Then it'll be convenient to make calls from home in the future." Ye Fu was happy.

"In a few years, when I can't work anymore, you move the phone to the workshop, and I'll watch the door there, and collect money while I'm at it."

Ye Yaodong chuckled, "You want to earn double the money."

His father could work for at least another 10 years; by the new millennium, even PHS phones would be out and popularized.

"Anyway, the phone line is connected; if we don't use it to make money, what a waste? Anyway, you're not short of this bit of money, earn a bit for my retirement."

"Fine, as long as you can earn it then."

"I definitely can earn it. This money is so easy to earn; sit there in the sun, answer the phone, and you can earn money."

Then you better pray.

Ye Fu asked about the kelp collection situation in the village during this period, and upon hearing that those who participated were given 300 yuan each, he was envious.

"If I were in the village, I'd definitely have some too."

"Are you short of this 300 yuan? Is what I give you comparable to this 300 yuan? Don't try to earn every bit of money; you'll pick up sesame seeds and lose the watermelon."

"I'm just saying. Didn't do any strenuous work, and could earn 300 yuan in half a year; it's too simple. Last year, we could say it was just the beginning, the village committee was messing around, and the money didn't fall into everyone's hands; everyone was just watching to see if it could earn money. This year, there's real money falling into their hands; next year, a bunch of people will follow along like crazy."

"That's for sure. If there's money to be made, who wouldn't do it? And you don't have to leave your hometown, and it's easy."

"Then will no one want to go out with us? And stay home to farm kelp instead."

"Under heavy rewards, there must be brave men. Our wages are over 100 a month; those who are older might stay in the village."